Germantown Planning Commission to discuss Carrefour at The Gateway

Carrefour shopping center is one area looking to redevelop as a part of Germantown's Smart Growth plan. The development cannot continue under the city's current moratorium.(Photo: Abigail Warren/The Commercial Appeal)Buy Photo

Developers are looking to transform Carrefour at Kirby Woods into a development called Carrefour at The Gateway. Plans for the shopping center in Germantown's western gateway will be discussed by the Planning Commission at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Germantown City Hall.

The proposal presented by Cannon, Austin & Cannon — owners of the shopping center near Kirby and Poplar — is a multi-purpose development including office, hotel, dining and retail spaces.

While current plans do not include apartments, urban zoning is in the plans. Apartments are allowed in the current zoning, but are blocked under Germantown's apartment moratorium, which lasts until July 8, 2019.

Apartments were discussed for the development earlier this year. Alderman Rocky Janda said at a June 25 Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting that he voted for the moratorium without recognizing Carrefour's economic impact on the city. He asked if an exemption could be discussed at a later meeting.

Audience members left sticky notes on posters with their comments about plans for redevelopment at Carrefour at Kirby Woods during a meeting Monday, Sept. 17, 2018.(Photo: Jamie Picunko)

City Administrator Patrick Lawton sent an email to the aldermen asking if they would be in favor of discussing an amendment to the moratorium that would exclude Carrefour. Janda, Alderman Forrest Owens and Alderwoman Mary Anne Gibson all responded that they would like to discuss the amendment at a future board meeting.

That discussion has yet to happen, but the Economic Development Commission sent a letter to the mayor in May saying it had seen plans that included apartments and hoped the board consider an exemption for Carrefour.

Caissa, a public relations firm, hosted a meeting to gather feedback about the development on Sept. 17. Citizens there expressed concerns that apartments could be part of the plan in later stages.

Developer Henry Cannon could not comment on feedback shared at the meeting, but said he has heard input feedback from residents, as well.

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